A Milwaukee man has pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run charge in a West Allis crash that killed a Milwaukee woman

Bob Dohr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·1 min read

A 55-year-old Milwaukee man has pleaded guilty to a felony hit-and-run charge in connection with a crash in West Allis that killed a 20-year-old Milwaukee woman.

Martin Aurelio Martinez Rodriguez entered a guilty plea to a charge of hit-and-run involving death during a plea hearing Wednesday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, according to Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Tate and online court records.

Martinez Rodriguez had previously pleaded not guilty to the charge; online court records indicate the two parties reached a plea agreement on Aug. 5.

The crash, which occurred shortly before 6:30 a.m. Jan. 11 in the 3200 block of South 108th Street, killed Donniesha Harris.

Harris was struck while she and another woman were crossing the street after getting off a bus, according to the criminal complaint.

Later that day, West Allis police arrested Martinez Rodriguez after getting a tip from a Milwaukee resident that the vehicle suspected of being involved in the crash may be parked nearby.

The vehicle, a gray Toyota Corolla registered to Martinez Rodriguez, had severe front end damage and blue tape around the windshield, indicating it had just been replaced. Parts missing from the vehicle were consistent with those found at the crash scene, police said.

Martinez Rodriguez was charged on Jan. 14.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, up to $100,000 in fines and revocation of driving privileges for five years, in addition to possible other penalties.

Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 30.

Contact Bob Dohr at 262-361-9140 or bob.dohr@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BobDohr1.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee man pleads guilty in fatal hit-and-run crash in West Allis